Motorcycle rider disqualified over St Leonards collision
The 19 year-old rode at speeds of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone
Last updated 27th Oct 2025
A motorcycle rider who caused a serious collision has been disqualified.
Sean Hartnup, 19, rode at speeds of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone in St Leonards.
Footage showed him attempting dangerous overtakes before he collided with a car.
The collision caused his pillion passenger a serious injury.
At Lewes Crown Court on 2 October, the 19-year-old admitted aggravated vehicle taking and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The court was told how the incident happened at 1.35pm on 28 June last year on the A259 in St Leonards.
Hartnup made off from police in the area at speed, reaching 70mph in London Road.
He attempted to overtake a vehicle turning right at the junction with North Road, but crashed into a vehicle which caused serious injuries to the passenger.
Hartnup, of Frobisher Close, Sittingbourne, Kent, did not hold a licence and was not undergoing motorcycle training at the time of the crash.
The motorcycle, a Royal Enfield Himalayan, was taken from the owner without permission from an address in the town between 26 June and 27 June.
PC Munday from the Roads Policing Unit conducted a thorough investigation, resulting in Hartnup's guilty plea in court.
The court ordered Hartnup to complete 200 hours of unpaid work as part of a 18-month suspended sentence, along with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions, and a £187 surcharge. He was disqualified from driving or riding for two years
Inspector Matt Wightwick from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Hartnup’s reckless actions put the safety of his passenger, other road users, and himself at high risk.
“His reckless behaviour and speeding caused a serious injury to his passenger, he was fortunate no one else was seriously harmed.
“Excess speed is one of the main causes of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads. The shocking footage in this case acts as a reminder and a deterrent to all road users to ride and drive safely.
“Hartnup should not have been on the road in the first place, so we are pleased a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads and the stolen motorcycle was recovered.”